System for supplying independent current to ignition circuits



Nov. 21, 1933. L. H. KITTREDGE 1,936,330,

SYSTEM FOR SUPPLYING INDEPENDENT CURRENT TO IGNITION CIRCUITS Filed June 10, 1.931 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Zirealpma WITNESS 55 BY d;

ATTORNEY Nov. 21, 1933. L. H. KITTREDGE 1,936,330

SYSTEM FOR SUPPLYING INDEPENDENT CURRENT TO IGNITION CIRCUITS Filed June 10, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 9 INVENTOR (It ire dye BY Md.

ATTOR NEY Patented Nov. 21, 1933 um'rso STATES PATENT QFFICE SYSTEM FOR SUPPLYING INDEPENDENT CURRENT TO IGNITION CiRCUITS 1 Claim.

This invention relates, to an independent ignition current supply to'beused in connection with the ignition circuits of internal combustion engines in place of the ordinary storage battery,

- or automatically connected in series with the storage battery, and it consists in the constructions, arrangements and combinations herein set forth and claimed.

The primary object of this invention is to pro vide an auxiliary source of current supply which may be used independently or which may be automatically connected with the storage battery for starting the engine only, or switched in for the continuous operation, and also for furnishing a means of cutting off the ignition current to prevent the operation of the engine through the use of the regular ignition switch. A further object of the invention is to provide a means of increasing the spark at the spark gap, insuring instant starting of the engine, thereby reducing the amount of fuel, preventing flooding of the engine and dilution of the lubrieating oil.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compact unit for housing the dry cells and relay and also including means for ready installation with the usual ignition circuits of motor vehicles.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention will be apparent from the following description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view, showing one method of connecting the invention into an electrical circuit of an automobile;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of a modified form of invention employing an automatic solenoid relay, and also illustrates an ignition circuit therefor;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the case, with the cover removed, illustrating the mounting of the relay and dry cells therein; and

Figure 4 is a cross section, taken on the line 44 of Figure 3.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown diagrammatically in Figures 1 and 2 an ordinary wiring circuit for starting and ignition employed in automobiles, including a storage battery 10, starter motor 11 and starter switch 12, ignition switch 13 and ignition coil 14, all of which are arranged in the circuit as well understood in the art.

Attention is now invited to Figure 1 of the drawings wherein I have shown a relay of the solenoid type employing a casing 15 having binding posts 16, 1'7 and 18 upon its upper wall and binding posts 19 and 20 upon its lower wall. The binding posts 18 and 20 are arranged centrally of the casing 15 and form contacts for establishing circuits by a solenoid, as will presently appear.

Supported centrally within the casing 15 there is a shell member 21 formed of suitable insulating material and includes a cylinder 22. Reciproeable within the cylinder 22 there is a piston element 23 having a weighted lower portion 24, and the stem 25 thereof has an enlargement 26. A helical spring 27 is disposed upon the stem 25 and is arranged so as to be compressible between the enlargement 26 and the upper wall of the shell 21. The terminal of the spring 2'? adjacent the enlargement may be secured thereto, if desired, and the other terminal of the spring 27 is connected to the binding post 17.

The top and bottom walls of the shell 21 are centrally apertured and the piston stem 25 is slidable and projectable therethrough for alternate contacting engagement with binding posts 13 and 20.

A winding 28 is arranged upon the exterior surface of the cylinder 22, respective terminals thereof being electrically connected to binding posts 16 and 19. 1

From the structure of the solenoid thus far described, it will be apparent that uponenergization of the winding 28, the core or piston 23 will be moved upwardly into contacting relation with the post 18, consequently breaking the circuit at the post 20.

The relay is inserted in the ignition circuit as shown in Figure 1, in the following manner, beginning with the starter motor 11. One side of the motor 11 is connected by the lead 29 to binding post 19, which as previously stated also forms a connection for one terminal of the winding 28. The post 16 is suitably mounted upon the frame, at 30. From the post 20 a lead 31 is connected to the ignition coil 14, which is grounded, and from the post 20 an additional lead 32 is electrically connected to the post 18, dry cells 33 being suitably connected in the lead 32. A double-throw switch 34 is installed between the binding posts 17 and 1S and the ignition switch 13, and is employed when it is desired to operate the engine independently of the storage battery 10.

Thus as shown in Figure 1 the switch 34 is shown in position to permit automatic operation of the invention, in conjunction with the storage battery, but when the switch 34 is swung to engage the contact 35, as indicated by the dotted lines, the automatic feature is cut out and the invent-ion is permanently connected in series with the storage battery, thus eliminating the need. of the starter switch, permitting starting of the engine by manual cranking.

In operation, the switch 13 is closed, the relay is energized by current from the storage battery 10 passing through the starter switch 12 and lead 29 to the post 19, through the winding 28 to post 16, which is grounded. When the relay is thus energized, the core 23 is forced upwardly against the tension of the spring 27 and the upper end of the piston stem 25 makes contact with the post 18. This movement of the core 23 breaks the contact with the post 20. When this action occurs, the dry cells 33 will be connected in series with the storage battery through posts 1'7, 18 and 20 through lead 32. When the starter switch is released, the movable core 23 is returned to its normal position by spring 27, assisted by the weight 24 thus the dry cells 33 are cut out of the circuit and allows current from the storage battery to pass directly to the coil 14 through contacts 17 and 20.

It will be noted that under normal operating conditions, the relay is arranged for automatically switching the dry cells in series with the storage battery, while the starting switch is in contact and for starting the engine only, but in case current to operate the starter motor, the switch 34 as shown in Figure 1 may be swung into engagement with the contact 35, connecting the dry cells into the ignition circuit and the engine may then be started by manual cranking.

In Figure 2 I have illustrated a common electro-magnet for effecting a switching of the dry cells 33 in series with the storage battery. In this form of the invention, the starter motor 11 has one side connected to winding 28 through lead 29 the opposite end of the winding being grounded, as at 30. Upon energization of the winding 28, the armature 23 will be drawn upwardly into electrical connection with the contact 18*, against the tension of the spring 27 De-energization of the winding 28 permits the armature to assume its normal position with respect to the contact 20.

The relays may be incorporated in any ordinary ignition system, as will be apparent, but in order to provide a compact unit I have illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 a casing 40 within which the relay and dry cells are enclosed. The housing 40 preferably constitutes a rectangular box of a length to receive the dry cells 33 in a vertical position, and to house the relay and double-throw switch 34 immediately thereabove. The housing 40 is provided with apertures 41 for suitable mounting thereof upon the dash of a vehicle, or otherwise, and the top wall 42 is apertured to receive binding posts 43, 44, 45 and 46, as clearly shown in Figure 3. These binding posts are suitably insulated from the top wall 42 by an insulator plate 47. The side wall 48 of the housing is apertured and receives the stem portion of the double-throw switch 34.

The binding post 43 constitutes a connection between the ignition switch 13 and the switch 34; the binding post 44 establishes a connection between the starter motor 11 and the winding 28, while the binding post 46 forms a connection for the ignition coil 14. The post 45 may constitute a ground connection, and in addition in cooperation with the binding post 44 provides means for mounting the relay within the case.

Attention is now directed to Figure 4 wherein a cover 49 is telescopically arranged upon the housing 40 and held in position upon the housing by a screw threaded bolt 50 secured in the medial portion of the back wall of the housing and projecting through an aperture 51 formed in the cover 49. A wing nut 52 may be engaged upon the bolt 50 for securing the cover upon the housing.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that I have provided an independent current supply which may be quickly switched into opera tion independently of the storage battery, or automatically connected in series with the storage battery to thereby boost the current supply to the ignition coil.

I claim:

An ignition circuit including a storage battery and an induction coil, a pair of contacts, a booster battery, a branch conductor connecting the booster battery with the contacts, a relay having a reciprocating member normally engaging one of the contacts, the last-mentioned contact being connected with the coil, the reciprocating member when in engagement with the. 

